[Seattle-editorial] FEATURE PROPOSAL: LPFM licensees

[jonathan lawson]

subtitle: MORE COMMUNITY BROADASTING AHEAD
title: FCC Approves 23 Low-Power FM Stations for Washington

Last week the FCC accepted Low Power FM applications filed by 23 aspiring 
community radio groups in Washington. Successful applicants included 
Olympia's <a href="http://www.mediaisland.org">Media Island</a>, Spokane's 
<b>Citizens for Clean Air</b>, the <b>Council for Alternative Energy</b> in 
Kettle Falls, and other community, arts-based and educational 
organizations.. About half of the applications accepted are from religious 
organizations. The round of approvals will bring community radio to several 
small communities on Washington's Olympic peninsula, including Port 
Townsend, Hoquiam, and Lake Quinault. Aberdeen, Sunnyside and Ocean Shores 
may each have two LPFM stations.

<p>About half of groups who filed during last year's application window 
were approved.
<a href="http://www.fcc.gov/e-file/ecfs.html">A complete list</a> of 
accepted LPFM
applications is available from the FCC.

<p>Unsuccessful LPFM applicants included community webcaster <a 
href="http://www.voiceofvashon.org">Voice of Vashon</a>, and  the <a 
href="http://www.nas.com/riverfarm/">River Farm</a> in Whatcom County. 
VoV's application was submitted as a challenge to overrestrictive, 
industry-penned spectrum adjacency rules and was expected to be denied, it 
is not clear why the River Farm's strong application was rejected.

<p>Opponents of <a 
href="http://www.mediaaccess.org/programs/diversity/index.html">FCC 
deregulation of the ownership rules</a> protecting diversity and localism 
among corporate radio, television, cable and newspapers, have until Dec. 2 
to file public comments with the Commission. <a href=" 
http://www.democraticmedia.org/news/ownershipNPRM.html ">Read more</a> and 
file comments online. [ <a 
href="http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-02-2476A1.doc">filing 
instructions</a> | <a href="http://www.fcc.gov/e-file/ecfs.html">online form</a>]